Finally after several setbacks my Kadet Senior flew her maden flight today with my instructor on the sticks.
She flew beautifully with no bad habits at all.
I was a bit worried that the Pro .46 engine with an 11-7 prop might not be enough as my build came in a pound and a half over recommended weight (7lbs6oz.)(I modified the kit by adding ailerons and fully sheeting the center wing section) . Not a problem, plenty of power with room to spare.
The crash? Well after getting airborn it was noticed that the nosewheel was non responsive. (turned out the cheap plastic clevis I used at the servo popped loose. I have since installed a heavy duty clevis) Thankfully, in the hands of an experienced pilot and the floating tendency of the Kadet , she floated in very slowly and with the throttle cut she only tipped up on one wing with no damge at all, not even a scratch.
I am stoked. To think that box of balsa sticks that I cut and glued together acually flys, and flys nicely to boot.
Words of caution for any first timers.(learn from my mistakes)
1. make sure all your radio components are fully compatible.
2. make sure all your mechanical connections are tight and don't use cheap clevises.
3. make 2 pre filght check list, 1 for at the field and 1 for at home so you don't forget to bring everything (I forgot my transmitter on my first trip)
4. there is an awefull lot invovled in setting up an airplane correctly and getting it to fly. Get an instructor to help.
Best of luck to everyone.

Missileman,
Isn't it a great feeling to see that plane you built take to the skies???? That's a feeling that ARF'ers will never know. Anyway, congrats on the maiden flight. And I'm glad to hear that the "crash" wasn't bad at all. At least it'll fly again. How about some pics of the new bird???

Good job

Ken

Glad you finally got it in the air, but you didn't say if YOU got to fly it. ENJOY !!! RED

I personally hate those cheap plastic clevises, and refuse to use them, but they should stay on if you use a small piece of fuel tubing as a keeper.

For a beginner, I’d say you are spot on with your four points, especially #3 and #4. You are on the right path.

Feels great to get your creation in the air, doesn’t it? Best of luck and enjoy!

Thank you all. Yes it is very satisfying to build from a kit and see it actually fly.
No I didn't get a chance to fly it myself (hopefully tomorrow after field cleanup). I didn't have an extra clevis and it was time to go to work anyway.
Here is an older picture. I covered the wingtips with the same green Monocoat as on the fuse. sides, top and tail feather trim. Added a Dubro exuast extension (to bring the exuast farther down and make cleanup easier) and, of course, the Kadet Senior decals on the forward fusalage sides.

Beautiful plane, nice job. Remember (if a beginning pilot), the wing never stops lifting unless stalled, so when you enter the first turn and bank it over on its side, it is actually coming toward you. If the nose drops in the turn and you give up elevator to correct without rolling the wings level first, you will enter the death spiral and be in the ground in about a second flat. Also, the upwind wing in a crosswind will lift slightly and throw you off course so if the airplane is not going where you want it to go, ride the airleron stick and make it go there. Any time the nose is pointed down and you didn't put it in that attitude, you're in trouble. Roll the wings level first, then ease in up elevator to get the nose up again. Use throttle to control altitude on the landing approach and elevator to keep the nose up in the "flair." Ride the elevator all the way to touchdown. The stick will be all the way back and the airplane just above stall if you get it right. Have fun!

G'day Mate, Well done, & just remember, A good landing is one you can walk away from, &
A GREAT landing, is when you can reuse the aircraft.

My question is why did you spend all that time to build a nice plane and obviously not know how to fly, then crash on the same day. Why no at least buddy with a pilot if you felt you might crash. Otherwise the above give you kudo's for building a nice plance and crashing it?

Why not just build a plane and set it on fire? Seems like a very **** thing to do as a novice, but hey, nice picture of a model.

Ummm, the plane was being flown by his instructor, and didn't really "crash"...

Nice plane, and congrats on it getting airborne. The nose wheel linkage is subjected to more stress than the other linkages. Going with a heavy duty clevis should help.

Did you actually read his post before you commented?? He said that he had an experienced pilot flying the plane when it happened.

Ken

I missed that part, my sincere apologies

Again, Thank you all.
I did get a chance to fly today. I got two succesfull training flights in. What a great feeling.

My Story:

Almost 4 years ago built a Goldberg Eaglet 25. I have been training on my 1/5 scale beaver, not the best choice, but defininatey trainer like. So everytime I get to the field it is always too windy to fly my little eaglet. Today no such condition existted and I wanted to try out my new Computer radio so I go for it.

So we check out the plane, CG is good, engine flawless. Line up for takeoff, and with some advice from the flight line I take off and it is looking good. For about five seconds, then out of fuel? elevator not set to proper throw? or not enough power? Operator error most likely!

Anyhow I am totally happy even though my plane has once again found the ditch. NO JITTERS, OR DISSAPOINTED, I TOOK OFF AND FLEW all by myself. next flight will be longer, and I know what went wrong. My instructor and I will work out the kinks and hopefully I can solo next time out. Even in the five to eight seconds I was in the air, I knew that plane was a much better trainer than the Beaver.

(no longer) crashontakeoff

MissileMan,
A pound an a half.. WOW, I bet you learn from me.

Haha, your probably a little too new here, but I had a build a while back that was i think 2 pounds overweight. Needless to say it has never been in the sky.

Good times..

-Chad

Oh and nice plane.

You have on your hands one of my favorite airplanes and a good loking one at that. The added ailerons should make it pefect. I've built three two without and one with ailerons. Good luck with it and I just hope you enjoy it as much as I did mine.

Good looking plane! It scared the heck out of me when I read the title of the thread.. I assumed (I know I know) that it would be another one of those stories (you all know what I'm talking about!).. Good to hear it all turned out well and you went home with a fully intact plane! I've never built a full kit before so I can only imagine the feeling when she take off for that first time!

Again, Thank you all for the kind comments (I am getting a swollen head here )
The instructor flew the first flight and I have since flown 4 myself (just circling the field) in moderatly high wind. She flies great. Can't wait to see how well it goes when the wind is not so strong